Thursday, November 24, 2005
Liars and Traitors and Smears (oh my!)
With the recent indictment of Lewis "Scooter" Libby for his involvement in the outing of CIA agent Valerie Plame, it came as little surprise that Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald will present new evidence to a grand jury this coming week. The Libby indictment as well as Mr. Fitzgerald's accompanying press conference, left little doubt that there was more to come. It was in fact the depth and degree of Libby's (alleged) obstruction of justice that made the initial two year investigation "only" produce these initial charges. At least for now. Rove, Cheney, Bolton, and Hadley are just some of the names that are heard in the buzz surrounding the investigation. The list may be long. The right wing spin machine is sure to ramp up again, spewing many previously stated myths and falsehoods. The White House will remain mum, enlisting their designated Robo-Liar Scott McClellan to endlessly drone:
Those hungry for smear can rest assured that the "Talking Points Diner" will be open round the clock, serving up Rovian personal attack stew, topped off with a half-baked wedge of propaganda pie. Your waiter Limbloat or his flat head assistant Hannity will be with you shortly. I'm sorry America, we don't serve truth here and our dishes are high in contempt and fact-free. Now sit down, shut up, and eat - you freedom hating liberal rape room loving terrorist sympathizer. Ouch.
Character assassination, smearing and denigration have been the soupe de jour on the Bush/Rove menu for years. The recipe is simple: Speak the truth, expose a renegade agenda , or refuse to fix the facts around the policy, and watch out. This administration will go out of its way to ruin you. If you happen to be squeaky clean, then your wife or family is fair game. But make no mistake, the spin and deception exists to distract from and distort the underlying truth - that a high crime was committed. That is why there is an investigation. To choose party loyalty over national security, and reveal the identity of a CIA agent during war time is treason. This is a serious issue. However it is just a "surface" issue of a much deeper and sadder travesty - the deception and lies that misled our country and our troops into an unnecessary and premeditated war.
"as part of cooperating fully with the ongoing investigation, that means we're not going to be commenting on it while it is ongoing...this question is coming up in the context of this ongoing investigation, and that's why I said that our policy continues to be that we're not going to get into commenting on an ongoing criminal investigation."Ad friggin' nausem.
Those hungry for smear can rest assured that the "Talking Points Diner" will be open round the clock, serving up Rovian personal attack stew, topped off with a half-baked wedge of propaganda pie. Your waiter Limbloat or his flat head assistant Hannity will be with you shortly. I'm sorry America, we don't serve truth here and our dishes are high in contempt and fact-free. Now sit down, shut up, and eat - you freedom hating liberal rape room loving terrorist sympathizer. Ouch.
Character assassination, smearing and denigration have been the soupe de jour on the Bush/Rove menu for years. The recipe is simple: Speak the truth, expose a renegade agenda , or refuse to fix the facts around the policy, and watch out. This administration will go out of its way to ruin you. If you happen to be squeaky clean, then your wife or family is fair game. But make no mistake, the spin and deception exists to distract from and distort the underlying truth - that a high crime was committed. That is why there is an investigation. To choose party loyalty over national security, and reveal the identity of a CIA agent during war time is treason. This is a serious issue. However it is just a "surface" issue of a much deeper and sadder travesty - the deception and lies that misled our country and our troops into an unnecessary and premeditated war.
Saturday, November 19, 2005
And Then My Head Exploded
I had been putting off launching a blog for way too long. I knew I would focus mainly on politics, as my thoughts (or should I say my obsession) had been frequently moving in a political direction. I was also becoming angry, agitated and deeply concerned. Perhaps my behavior was influenced by the 43rd President of the United States being selected by the Supreme Court. (In the most blatant and egregious example of judicial legislation in our nation's history.) Or maybe it was the tragic, unforgettable events on 9-11-2001, as the White House ignored warnings and failed to act, even during the attacks. Or maybe it was how fear and fear mongering soon became the White House's favorite political tool, used frequently for diversion, manipulation and control. It could have been how the so-called "War on Terror" was diverted to Iraq killing tho
usands, including over 2000 U.S troops. Whatever the impetus, I found myself speaking passionate, sometimes satirical commentary to a select group of like-minded friends and family members. We started e-mail groups, and would exchange links to articles, reports, and documents to help educate one another while exposing lies, hypocrisy and corruption.
At the same time, I would quietly seethe and simmer as those who dared to speak out were labeled "unpatriotic" and "anti-American." I would become enraged as the Administration threatened American citizens and warned of imminent threats to advance their agenda. I became nauseated as the main stream media pedaled one-sided, right-wing propaganda and called it journalism. I became disgusted as religious leaders continued to influence the government with their radical, fringe ideology. I would grimace when anyone who opposed the Iraq war was branded a "troop hater" or "traitor". As new atrocities, lies, and spin emerged on an almost daily basis, a voice inside my head start speaking louder and louder. "THIS IS INSANE, THESE PEOPLE ARE NUTS, YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING!", the voice would say, in a impassioned, ascending pitch. The voice was like a beast, growing with unstoppable veracity as it fed on a staple diet of information overload and a lust for truth. The beast's voice continued to get louder and LOUDER, my anxiety level skyrocketed, my blood pressure soaring off the chart....
And then my head exploded.
As I mopped up the mess, a simple yet logical solution emerged. Left Brain Blue. A way to vent, to quell and channel my inner "turmoil"? Absolutely. An avenue for writing and creative expression? Without a doubt. A vehicle to help invoke change? Perhaps.
As additional thoughts, ideas and observations appear on Left Brain Blue, perhaps an opinion will be changed or an idea inspired. Agree or disagree, a dialog might be triggered and I welcome your comments. As the current Administration continues to reveal its own incompetence, corruption and scandal, change will be an inevitable outcome. We should welcome and embrace this change. And become the force behind it. The spirit and resolve of the American people is too strong to be oppressed, to persistent to be denied a voice. The time to take our country back is NOW. This country belongs to the People. Speak up. Speak out. Educate yourself and share the information with others. Start a blog, write a song, write an article, run for office. Put your US Senators and House Representatives phone numbers on speed dial and call them. Use their email/mail addresses and write them on every issue that concerns you. Vote. Encourage others to do the same. The time for change is NOW.
usands, including over 2000 U.S troops. Whatever the impetus, I found myself speaking passionate, sometimes satirical commentary to a select group of like-minded friends and family members. We started e-mail groups, and would exchange links to articles, reports, and documents to help educate one another while exposing lies, hypocrisy and corruption.
At the same time, I would quietly seethe and simmer as those who dared to speak out were labeled "unpatriotic" and "anti-American." I would become enraged as the Administration threatened American citizens and warned of imminent threats to advance their agenda. I became nauseated as the main stream media pedaled one-sided, right-wing propaganda and called it journalism. I became disgusted as religious leaders continued to influence the government with their radical, fringe ideology. I would grimace when anyone who opposed the Iraq war was branded a "troop hater" or "traitor". As new atrocities, lies, and spin emerged on an almost daily basis, a voice inside my head start speaking louder and louder. "THIS IS INSANE, THESE PEOPLE ARE NUTS, YOU HAVE TO DO SOMETHING!", the voice would say, in a impassioned, ascending pitch. The voice was like a beast, growing with unstoppable veracity as it fed on a staple diet of information overload and a lust for truth. The beast's voice continued to get louder and LOUDER, my anxiety level skyrocketed, my blood pressure soaring off the chart....
And then my head exploded.
As I mopped up the mess, a simple yet logical solution emerged. Left Brain Blue. A way to vent, to quell and channel my inner "turmoil"? Absolutely. An avenue for writing and creative expression? Without a doubt. A vehicle to help invoke change? Perhaps.
As additional thoughts, ideas and observations appear on Left Brain Blue, perhaps an opinion will be changed or an idea inspired. Agree or disagree, a dialog might be triggered and I welcome your comments. As the current Administration continues to reveal its own incompetence, corruption and scandal, change will be an inevitable outcome. We should welcome and embrace this change. And become the force behind it. The spirit and resolve of the American people is too strong to be oppressed, to persistent to be denied a voice. The time to take our country back is NOW. This country belongs to the People. Speak up. Speak out. Educate yourself and share the information with others. Start a blog, write a song, write an article, run for office. Put your US Senators and House Representatives phone numbers on speed dial and call them. Use their email/mail addresses and write them on every issue that concerns you. Vote. Encourage others to do the same. The time for change is NOW.
